SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, October 7, 1994
2B
NFL Week Six Preview
A look at the top games this weekend
Chiefs, Chargers to battle for No.1 in AFC West
The Associated Press
SAN DIEGO — It could be the closest thing to playoff-caliber football this city has seen in early October for quite some time:
— Joe Montana vs. Junior Seau.
- Joe Stahlman's son and Sean
- Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith
trying to slam dance with Stan
Humphries.
— The Kansas City Chiefs (3-1) and San Diego Chargers, at 4-0 the NFL's only undefeated team, wrestling for first place in the AFC West on Sunday at Jack Murphy Stadium.
"We haven't had much success against those guys in the past," said San Diego free safety Stanley Richard. "If we win this game, it lets everyone in the division know that hey, this team is serious, and people around the league will say, 'These Chargers are really serious about playing football.' Plus we have a lot of confidence."
That confidence is based on road wins against the other three AFC West teams — Los Angeles, Seattle and Denver It certainly isn't based on eight straight regular-season losses to Kansas City this decade.
The Chiefs, in fact, were the last team to beat the Chargers, rallying from a 17-0 deficit for a 28-24 win in Kansas City on Dec. 19. San Diego won its two games of 1993 to finish 8-8.
Kansas City, stunned 16-0 by the Los Angeles Rams two weeks ago, is playing its first division game after an unusual stretch of four straight games against the NFC West.
"The only thing about it is it gives us
an opportunity to get back even at the top of the division," said Montana, who led the Chiefs to the AFC West title last year. "We have the initial tiebreaker on them if we win. It's a big game for both teams."
As usual in this series, Kansas City's outside rushing tandem of Thomas and Smith will be in the spotlight. Smith will play with a brace-like device that was surgically implanted in his right thumb, which he strained during the Rams game.
"I don't know what it's going to do to the pass rush—probably nothing," Smith said.
Led by Thomas and Smith, the Chiefs have 15 sacks in their last four regular-season games against San Diego.
Humphries has played only two full games against the Chiefs. One was the Chargers' 17-0 playoff win in 1992. The other was a disaster earlier that season at Kansas City, when Thomas sacked Humphries four times in the first half and forced two fumbles that set up 10 points. The Chiefs finished with six sacks.
"It's speed," Humphries said. "It's just a credit to the way they are. They do it to everybody. It's not just us. It seems like in the past we've given up some big plays that have kind of turned the game around."
Humphries missed a 17-14 home loss to Kansas City last year because of a bruised shoulder. In the game at Kansas City, he was sidelined by a concussion after just two drives.
The Chargers hope Natrone Means, running behind a healthy offensive line, can take some pressure off
"We need a big game out of him this week — 100 yards, or whatever it takes to win," said coach Bobby Ross.
Humphries.
The Rams' Jerome Bettis had 132 vards against the Chiefs.
"If we don't get more consistency to our running game and our protection, then we could be in for a long day because these guys are capable of making you look bad." Ross said.
Despite the Chiefs' domination, Kansas City coach Marty Schottenheimer said he didn't think there had been a big difference between the teams. Six of the last eight regular-season games have been decided by four points or less.
"I just happen to think that we managed to make a play or two in each of those games, with the exception that enabled us to prevail," Schottenheimer said, referring to the playoff game.
The biggest turnaround has been with Humphries. With his throwing shoulder healthy, his pass efficiency rating of 104.4 remains highest in the AFC.
"I kind of chuckle to myself about those people who were burying the Chargers back in the preseason. Last year was an aberration because of Stan's health. I just think that it's amusing. It's not amusing when you have to compete against them, but it's amusing to see what has happened with the Chargers."
And he's drawn raves for his gutsy play in a 26-24 victory over the Raiders, limping back from a knee injury to lead the game-winning 65-yard drive.
Minnesota (3-2)
New York (3-1)
Televised 8 p.m., ABC, Monday night
LINE — New York by 2.
SERIES RECORD — Vikings lead 6-4
VIKINGS OFFENSE — RUSH (No. 13), PASS (No. 10),
OVERALL (No. 11)
Four turnovers offset QB Warren Moon's 355 yards passing vs. the Cardinals. Moon also threw two ints. BR Terry Allen, coming off consecutive 100-yard games, was held to 18 yards on 12 carries last week. He is fourth in NFC in rushing with 364 yards. WR Cris Carter had career highs with 14 catches and 167 yards vs. the Cardinals.
GIANTS OFFENSE — RUSH (No. 12), PASS (No. 27),
OVERALL (No. 28)
RB Rodney Hampton may be back from a bruised kidney after missing the last two games. The Giants missed him last week, when they were held to season-low 50 yards rushing. RB Dave Meggett has filled in admirably with 122 yards on 42 carries and two TDs in the last two games. QB Dave Brown had his first bad game. He was 20-for-35 and had only 180 yards, two INTs and was sacked seven times last week.
VIKINGS DEFENSE — RUSH (No. 4), PASS (No. 20),
OVERALL (No. 10)
The Vikings are tied for third in the NFC with 15 sacks. DT John Randle leads the team with 4.5. MLB Jack Del Rio has two INTs and a sack. OB LEd McDaniel continued his excellent year with nine solo tackles and his first sack of season against the Cardinals.
GIANTS DEFENSE — RUSH (No. 1), PASS (No. 26)
OVERALL (No. 18)
The Giants have allowed just 66 yards rushing per game, 2.9 yards per rush and have given up just two rushing TDs. S John Booty had his second INT of the season, tying him with CB Phillippi Sparks for the team lead.
Miami
Televised at noon, NBC
LINE — Buffalo by 21/2.
SERIES RECORD — Dolphins lead 37-18-1
DOLPHINS OFFENSE — RUSH (No. 9),
PASS (No. 2), OVERALL (No. 2)
B D Dan Marino leads NFL with 14 TD passes. His 103.6 rating is second in the AFC, and his 9,574 yards is second in the NFL. Three receivers have more than 20 catches, and four have over 200 yards. WR Irving Fryar has 539 yards (He leads AFC.) and four TDs. KB Keith Bryars team with 27 catches.RB Bernie Parmalee, now starting in place of injured RB Terry Kirby, had 73 yards on 18 carries and TD against the Bengals.
BILLS OFFENSE — RUSH (No. 10), PASS
(No. 20), OVERALL (No. 19)
RB Thurman Thomas missed last week's
game, but RB Kenneth Davis stepped in and rushed for 78 yards on 18 attempts. Thomas is probable this week. QB Jim Kelly and his passing game have been erratic. KWR Andre Reed has 27 catches (tied for third in AFC) and 416 vards (third in AFC).
DOLPHINS DEFENSE — RUSH (No. 5),
PASS (No. 28), OVERALL (No. 27)
Miami had three INTs last week against Bengals. Miami's 10 INTs are tied for the AFC lead. Defensive Jeff Cross and Marco Coleman are tied for team lead in sacks with three each.
DE Bruce Smith leads conference with seven sacks after registering 1.5 against the Bears. OLB Cornelius Bennett had eight solo tackles and two assists. He has 3.5 tackles for the season. The Bears allowed only 261 yards against the Bears.
BILLS DEFENSE — RUSH (No. 11), PASS
(No. 15) OVERALL (No. 16).
New Orleans
(2-3)
at
Chicago
(3-2)
Televised 12 p.m.,FOX
LINE — Chicago by 31/2.
SERIES RECORD — Bears lead 8-6.
SAINTS OFFENSE — RUSH (No.
PASS, PASS (No. 4), OVERALL (No. 14)
Saints had best rushing game of season against the Giants, but still managed only 67 yards on 28 carries. QB Jim Everett was 20-for-30 for 249 yards and TD last week. His rating is 82.1, and he's completing 63.1 percent of his passes. WR Quinn Early leads team with 28 catches and 356 yards. WR Michael Haynes is second in both categories with 22 receptions and 320 yards.
BEARS OFFENSE — RUSH (No.
24), PASS (No. 18), OVERALL (No.
24)
QB Steve Walsh made his second straight start against the Bills. He again was efficient (19-for-28, 160 yards and TD). Averaging 2.9 per rush for season. WR Curtis Conway leads team in catches (19) and yards (265).
SAINTS DEFENSE — RUSH (No.
15) PASS (No. 15) OVERALL (No. 15)
OLB Dariion Conner had two more sacks against the Giants and now leads NFL with eight. DE Wayne Martin also had two sacks last week. He has five. Their 19 sacks lead NFL.
BEARS DEFENSE — RUSH (No.
27), PASS (No. 9), OVERALL (No. 19)
The Bears held the Bills to 204 yards. CB Donnell Woolford had good game with five tackles, INT and helped hold WR Andre Reed to three catches and 25 yards. Four linebackers are out with injuries.
Televised 12 p.m., NBC
SERIES RECORD — Colts lead 27-20.
COLTS OFFENSE — RUSH (No. 4), PASS (No. 28)
OVERALL (No. 23)
JETS OFFENSE — RUSH (No. 18t), PASS (No. 11),
OVERALL (No. 12)
RB Marshall Faulk ran for two more TDs against the Sea hawks, giving him six for season. His 459 yards rushing is second in the AFC. QB Jim Harbaugh has 87.2 rating (fourth in the AFC) after going 15-for-26 with no INTs and 181 yards last week. WR Sean Dawkins, who has been inconsistent, had his best game with five catches and 99 vards.
Have scored only 28 points in last three games (all losses) after scoring 48 in first two (both wins). QB Jack Trudeau, starting in place of injured Boomer Esiason, was poor against the Browns, throwing two INTS. Trudeau may go again this week. RB Johnny Johnson is fourth in the AFC in rushing (352 yards) and fifth in yards from scrimmage (503 yards).
COLTS DEFENSE — RUSH (No. 25), PASS (No. 24),
OVERALL (No. 26)
DT Steve Emtman played for first time since suffering major knee injury Oct. 10 of last year. Emtman was in on 20 plays, had three tackles, including one for a loss, and one a sack. He helped Colts to best defensive day holding Seahawks to 251 total yards. They came in allowing 404.3 yards per game.
JETS DEFENSE — RUSH (No. 13), PASS (No. 14),
OVERALL (No. 13)
Defense has sputtered since their first week against the Bills. Surrendered 363 yards against the Brown's. They have allowed eight rushing TDs and have only three INTs.
San Francisco (3-2)
at Detroit (2-3)
LINE — San Francisco by 41/2.
SERIES RECORD — 49ers lead 26-25-1.
Televised 12 p.m.. FOX
QB Steve Young threw two INTs and was removed from last week's game. He gained only 189 yards and allowed three sacks against the Eagles. WR Jerry Rice has 34 receptions (fourth in NFC), 523 yards (second in conference) and six TDs (leads NFC). The offensive line, which has been beset by injuries, has surendered 16 sacks.
49ERS OFFENSE — RUSH (No. 14), PASS (No. 9),
OVERALL (No. 10)
LIONS OFFENSE — RUSH (No. 3), PASS (No. 25),
OVERALL (No. 15)
RB Barry Sanders had career-high 85-yard run and 166 yards against the Bucs. He leads NFL with 627 yards rushing and has accounted for just under 40 percent of Lions' total offense. WR Herman Moore leads team with 25 catches and 398 yards.
49ERS DEFENSE — RUSH (No. 9), PASS (No. 11),
OVERALL (No. 8)
CB Deion Sanders did not start because of an ankle injury last week. He played as an ankle back, but should be back in the lineup this week. The unit allowed 437 yards total offense, including 191 rushing, against the Eagles. LIONS DEFENSE — RUSH (No. 24), PASS (No. 10), OVERALL (No. 12)
The Lions have only one INT (fewest in NFL) and eight sacks. Outside linebackers Broderick Thomas and Pat Swilling have combined for five of those sacks. ILB Chris Spielman leads team with 54 tackles.